Granted Patent B2

US 6,866,525 · App. 10/286,371 · Granted Mar 15, 2005

Abstract

Claims (36)

1. A system for latching and extracting a board-type device from a housing, wherein the board-type device includes a face, a top edge and a bottom edge and is mounted within a guide within the housing, the system comprising:

a substantially flat latch comprising a handle portion, a pivot portion coupled to the handle, and a securement portion coupled to the pivot portion, wherein the securement portion comprises an extraction segment and a latching segment; and

a pivot coupling the latch to the board-like device;

wherein the latch is coupled to the board-like device along one of the top edge and the bottom edge such that it is oriented perpendicular to the face and perpendicular to a mating direction for the board-type device.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the securement portion comprises a hook that engages a slot defined within the guide and an extractor corner.

3. A system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a spring between the latch and the board-type device.

4. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the handle portion comprises an extension parallel to the face.

5. A system in accordance with claim 1 comprising two latches, a first latch being located at the top edge of the board-like device and a second latch being located the bottom edge.

6. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the latch comprises a conductive material.

7. An electronic device comprising a plurality of plug-in modules within a plurality of corresponding guides, each module including a face, a top edge and a bottom edge comprising:

at least one substantially flat latch/extractor comprising a handle portion, a pivot portion coupled to the handle, and a securement portion coupled to the pivot portion, wherein the securement portion comprises an extraction segment and a latching segment; and

at least one pivot coupling the at least one latch/extractor to the module, the at least one pivot being coupled to its respective module at the top edge;

wherein the at least one latch/extractor is coupled to the plug-in module such that it is oriented perpendicular to the face and perpendicular to a mating direction for the plug-in module.

8. An electronic device in accordance with claim 7 wherein the securement portion comprises a hook that engages a slot defined within the guide and an extractor corner.

9. An electronic device in accordance with claim 7 further comprising a spring between each latch/extractor and its respective module.

10. An electronic device in accordance with claim 7 wherein the handle portion comprises an extension parallel to the face.

11. An electronic device in accordance with claim 7 wherein each module comprises two latch/extractors, a first latch/extractor being located at a first end of its respective module and a second latch/extractor being located at a second end opposite the first end.

12. An electronic device in accordance with claim 7 wherein the latch/extractor comprises a conductive material.

13. A method of manipulating plug-in modules within an electronic device, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of plug-in modules within a plurality of corresponding guides, each module including a face and comprising:

at least one substantially flat latch/extractor comprising a handle portion, a pivot portion coupled to the handle, and a securement portion coupled to the pivot portion, wherein the securement portion comprises an extraction segment and a latching segment; and

at least one pivot coupling the at least one latch/extractor to the module, the at least one pivot being coupled to its respective module at a top edge of the module;

wherein the at least one latch/extractor is coupled to the module such that it is oriented perpendicular to the face and perpendicular to a mating direction for the plug-in module; and

moving at least one latch/extractor in a first direction perpendicular to the face until it engages a slot defined within the guide.

14. A method in accordance with claim 13 further comprising:

moving at least one latch/extractor in a second direction perpendicular to the major axis;

engaging a corner of the at least one latch/extractor with a corresponding guide; and

removing the corresponding module from the corresponding guide.

15. A method of removing plug-in modules from an electronic device, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of plug-in modules within a plurality of corresponding guides, each module including a face and comprising:

at least one substantially flat latch/extractor comprising a handle portion, a pivot portion coupled to the handle, and a securement portion coupled to the pivot portion, wherein the securement portion comprises an extraction segment and a latching segment; and

at least one pivot coupling the at least one latch/extractor to the module, the at least one pivot being coupled to its respective module at a top edge;

wherein the at least one latch/extractor is coupled to the module such that it is oriented perpendicular to the face and perpendicular to a mating direction for the plug-in module;

moving at least one latch/extractor in a direction perpendicular to the face;

engaging a corner of the at least one latch/extractor with a corresponding guide; and

removing the corresponding module from the corresponding guide.

Assignments (8)